Hand-drawn hometown collection
A hand-drawn celebration of Crystal Lake, available exclusively at Conscious Cup.
15 oz ceramic mugMicrowave safeDishwasher safe
Town
Crystal Lake combines a true hometown feel with lakeside recreation, historic character, and a downtown full of local life. Main Beach, The Dole, Veteran Acres, and community traditions give residents plenty to be proud of and visitors a welcoming reason to stay awhile.
The collaboration
Crystal Lake is where my husband Matt grew up, so this mug is filled with places and memories that are personal to him. Main Beach was where everyone went growing up, and the town’s history of harvesting ice from the lake added another fascinating layer to the design.
We balanced those historic pieces with present-day favorites such as Three Oaks Recreation Area. We also had to include Country Donuts and a chocolate iced ring because Matt walked there as a child and that was always his favorite order.
It was wonderful working with Mike and Rosanna Shipley at Conscious Cup to celebrate their community. The cardboard boat regatta, Main Beach gate, Dole Mansion, summer fireworks, and Taste of Crystal Lake are among the other details that made this mug especially fun to create.
The people behind Conscious Cup
Every mug in this collection grew from a creative partnership with Conscious Cup. It has been a joy to collaborate with owners Michael Shipley and Roseanna Shipley as these five local designs found their way into the cafes and communities they serve.
The story behind the mug
Ashley visited Crystal Lake with close family friends, spending summer days near the beach, dock, and old wooden playground.
After meeting Matt, Ashley learned that Crystal Lake was his hometown, connecting her own memories with his family story.
Ashley brought Conscious Cup her hand-drawn interpretation of Crystal Lake, and the team immediately connected with it.
Conscious Cup introduced Crystal Lake, Cary, Barrington, Palatine, and Libertyville together in a campaign celebrating the hand-drawn artwork and each café community.
The Northwest Herald shared the personal history and local collaboration behind the Crystal Lake and Cary mugs.
Inside the illustration
Each place was chosen because it holds a recognizable piece of the community’s story.
The lakefront gathering place at the center of Ashley’s childhood memories in Crystal Lake.
A beloved historic property and cultural landmark represented in the hand-drawn artwork.
A familiar recreation destination woven into the community’s everyday life.
Open green space, sports, and trails that generations of local families recognize.
A nod to the water, outdoor activities, and summer rhythms of Crystal Lake.
The fireworks and festivities that bring the community together each summer.
In the news
The Northwest Herald featured Ashley’s story and the launch of the Crystal Lake and Cary mugs, including her childhood visits to Main Beach, Matt’s roots in Crystal Lake, and the way those memories became part of the artwork.
Read the Northwest Herald storyFrom one town to five
The Crystal Lake Mug opened the door to four more town designs: Cary, Barrington, Palatine, and Libertyville. Conscious Cup introduced all five in November 2022 with a coordinated campaign focused on Ashley’s hand-drawn process and the local identity of every cafe community.
The mugs were created as generously sized, 15 oz latte-style keepsakes, meant to be used at home while keeping a familiar place close at hand.
Journal · Behind the drawing
Main Beach, The Dole, and family memory shaped the Crystal Lake design.
Read the story
